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Video Clips from "Safeguarding our Democracy: A Bipartisan Discussion on Election Protection in Georgia" - An Event at Georgia State University on October 15, 2024
(Watch all clips via YouTube here)

Over 400 attendees gathered to listen to 18 presenters from across the political spectrum talk about the work they are doing to support voting and, more broadly, to safeguard our democracy and the rule of law. The event was sponsored by the GSU Department of Political Science, BridgeGSU, the Scholars Strategy Network, and Community Change. The event was discussed on WABE Radio (17:40-20:14) and written about in the Georgia Recorder.

Session 1: "The View from the Front Lines"

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In this session, a bipartisan panel of election experts who are working to run Georgia's elections this fall explained why they think Georgia's elections are more secure than ever. They also offered sobering stories about threats faced by election workers as well as reasons for being optimistic about the future of free, fair, and clean elections in Georgia and across the country.

 

Panelists:

  • Matt Mashburn (Republican): former Acting Chair, Georgia State Election Board

  • Akyn Beck (Independent): Head Elections Supervisor, Floyd County

  • Gabriel Sterling (Republican): Georgia Secretary of State's Chief Operating Officer

  • Sara Tindall Ghazal (Democrat): member, Georgia State Election Board

  • Dr. Jesse Harris (Independent):  Principal Consultant, Election Care Solutions, LLC

 

Moderator: Dr. Amy Steigerwalt (Professor and Chair, GSU Department of Political Science)

Session 2: "How Did We Get Here and How Do We Move Forward?"

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In this session, three political science professors explained why democratic engagement - especially by students - is so important and offered practical advice for engaging constructively now and after the election. Two of those professors also explained (from a political science perspective) why it is that trust in our elections is so low despite the fact that our elections are now more secure and better run than ever.

 

Panelists:

  • Dr. Adrienne Jones (Professor of Political Science, Morehouse University)

  • Dr. Jennifer McCoy (Regents Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University)

 

Moderator: Dr. Richard Doner (Professor Emeritus, Emory University Department of Political Science)

Session 3: "Taking Action"

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The third and final session was a quick-hitting "lightening round." Politicians, professionals, and civic leaders from across the political spectrum each spent ~2 minutes sharing the work they are doing to safeguard democracy and the rule of law and pointing to ways we can contribute to the effort. Below on this page you will find more information about these and other opportunities for taking action to safeguard our democracy and the rule of law.

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Speakers:

  • 0:24: Saira Draper (Representative, Georgia House District 90)

  • 4:36: Bryan Tyson (Member, RightCount Georgia's Leadership Advisory Council)

  • 6:27: Evan Malbrough (Associate, Harvard Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, & Public Policy)

  • 8:19: Sharyn Dowd (Co-Director, Braver Angels Georgia)

  • 10:57: Rachel Lastinger (Director, ACLU Georgia's Voter Access Project)

  • 13:20: Rosario Palicios (Organizing Director, Common Cause Georgia)

  • 15:26: Baoky Vu (Former Vice Chair, Dekalb County Board of Elections)

  • 19:01: Rediet Mulugeta (President, BridgeGSU)

  • 20:48: John Taylor III (Founder, Black Male Initiative)

Taking Action to Promote Voting, Safeguard Democracy, & Uphold the Rule of Law
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Go Vote Flyers

Additional Educational Videos & Podcasts Related to Election Protection

The Count with David Becker. CEIR Limited-Series Podcast. 10/11/2024

"The story of how the fundamental civic act of counting votes became embroiled in deceit, rage, and insurrection – and how we can find our way back. Hosted by David Becker, election law expert and Executive Director and Founder of the Center for Election Innovation & Research (CEIR)."

"Threats, Opportunities, and the Future of U.S. Elections." SSN Podcast episode. 10/1/2024.

"Professor Paul Gronke joins us for a conversation about the U.S. voting system. He shares insights into the challenges of election security, the increasing harassment faced by officials on the front lines, and how the "Stop the Steal" movement has shaken public trust. Can the current voting system handle threats to the election? And what reforms are needed to rebuild trust in our elections? Professor Gronke dives into these complexities and discusses what’s at stake for democracy in 2024."

 

"Do Fraud Claims About The 2020 Presidential Election Stand Up to Scrutiny?" University of Chicago's Not Another Politics Podcast. 10/9/2024

"In the wake of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, claims of widespread voter fraud have fueled political controversies and public distrust. But how credible are these claims? In this episode, we sit down with political scientist Justin Grimmer to discuss his new paper “An Evaluation of Fraud Claims from the 2020 Trump Election Contests,” which systematically debunks over 1,000 fraud allegations from the 2020 election. Grimmer and his co-author comb through the data, analyzing everything from accusations of underage voting to machine vote-switching. Are these claims grounded in reality, or are they just a tool for sowing doubt?" ​​​​​

"DEADLOCK: An Election Story." PBS.  9/20/2024.

"It’s Election Day in the fictional state of Middlevania. You’re a poll worker, excited to do your civic duty, when suddenly you’re confronted with a series of challenges that will lead you to wrestle with what is legal… and what is right. This election dilemma unfolds in DEADLOCK: an election story, where UC Davis School of Law professor Aaron Tang guides a panel of influential figures from legal, political, media and cultural spheres through complex ethical dilemmas based on a real-life scenario. The special encourages civil dialogue and critical thinking in an era dominated by polarizing debates."

How Would You Respond to These Ethical Dilemmas? | DEADLOCK: An Election Story | Full Episode | PBS
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"Democracy and the Risks to the 2024 Election." Rick Hasen Panel Discussion. 9/25/2024.

"How prepared are we for a peaceful transition of power in 2024 in light of what we witnessed in the 2020 elections? What hurdles stand before minority voters in the upcoming elections? How has the social media and information environment affecting elections shifted since 2020? ... [W]e speak with Leah Aden, of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, John Fortier, of the American Enterprise Institute, and Yoel Roth of the Match Group."

"Confronting Threats to Election Certification: The Role of State and Local Officials." Webinar hosted by Protect Democracy and the Center for Election Innovation & Research. 9/16/2024.

"By law, election certification is a ministerial duty — officials have no discretion whether to certify or not. Nonetheless, in recent years, we’ve seen a number of local officials refuse to certify election results, often based on unfounded claims of fraud and other misinformation about our election systems. This can potentially delay finalizing election results and confuse voters about the election process. State officials and local election administrators have a key role to play in ensuring the prompt certification of election results, which is especially important in our decentralized presidential election process. In this webinar, you will hear from several officials who have responded to certification threats in prior elections — how the threats arose, what tools they leveraged in responding, and lessons learned for future elections. Speakers: Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State; Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico Secretary of State; Gabriel Sterling, Chief Operating Officer, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State; David Becker, Executive Director, Center for Election Innovation & Research; Jessica Marsden, Director of Impact Programs & Counsel for Free & Fair Elections, Protect Democracy"

"2024 American Election: Legal Fact vs. Fiction." The Impolitic Podcast. 10/1/2024.

"This special edition of Impolitic features several legal experts and scholars to help us better understand America’s electoral system. We first reflect on the 2020 election and implication for the upcoming 2024 election. Our guests explain legal processes and permissible challenges that may occur in an election. We also explore potential conspiracy theories, misinformation, and disinformation that may affect public opinion. We close by providing listeners with resources to better understand America’s election system."

Election Campaign Stickers

How to Vote

  • Learn when and where to vote, get a sample ballot, check your registration, and much more by going to the ​Georgia Secretary of State's "My Voter Page" (MVP): Do a web search for “My Voter Page Georgia” or go to https://mvp.sos.ga.gov

  • Get immediate help with the voting process: Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) to talk to a Georgia election expert. They can help with major issues ("I think my voting rights have been violated") and simple questions ("I don't know where to go to vote")

  • Sign-up for VoteFlare so you are contacted immediately if your voter registration changes

  • Help yourself and others to vote with maximum confidence by watching Georgia State University's "how to vote" videos

 

Where to Get Credible Election-Related News and Information

 

How to Resist Election Misinformation and Disinformation

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How to Help Run Our Elections

 

Young Voters' Questions Answered

Question: How do Kamala Harris and Donald Trump differ on the issues that matter most to me?

Answer: They differ A LOT on every issue. Learn how they differ here. 

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Question: Why should young voters bother to vote?​

Answer: Young voters have essentially decided election outcomes in recent years (especially in Georgia) and will likely do so in this election.

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